India, Nov. 25 -- The death of a 13-year-old student ordered to do 100 sit-ups for reporting to school late has revealed some disturbing truths - 9% of illegal schools in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) are in Vasai-Virar. That's 97 illegal schools in Vasai-Virar - 69 primary and 28 secondary schools - according to a survey by the state education department, this year.

Moreover, according to the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), there are 217 authorised schools in the region. This means, 31% of schools in the region are unauthorised.

Education activists say many of the illegal schools are not affiliated to a school board, they operate out of unauthorised structures, and are not approved by the state education department.

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